Tiltable umbrellas



Sept. 29, 1959 s. N. SMALL TILTABLE UMBRELLAS Filed Nov. 30

ORN

NVENTOR SAMUEL N SMALL United States Patent TILTABLE UMBRELLAS Samuel N. Small, Valley Stream, N.Y., assigner to Alfred G. Cohen and Paul Weiss, both of Flushing, N.Y.

Application November 30, '-19'56, Serial No. 625,530

6 Claims. (Cl. 1351-42) This invention relates to umbrellas and, particularly, the shaft structure of umbrellas having means hingedly coupling upper and lower sections of the shaft structure to provide normal straight uses of an umbrella, aswell as tilta-ble uses thereof.

More particularly, the invention deals in a shaft structure, wherein means is provided for retaining the rib runner in xed position in the tilted arrangement of the umbrella and, further, means is provided for maintaining said runner in position supporting the shaft parts in alinement with each other when the umbrella is in extended position.

Still more particularly, the invention deals in an umbrella structure of the character described, wherein a modified form of spring catch is employed operatively engaging the runner pivot means to tcnsionally maintain the umbrella in the normal straight position.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by siutable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the shaft structure of an umbrella, illustrating the parts of the shaft in tilted position, with the runner retaining the parts in such position, parts of the construction being .shown in section, parts in elevation and parts of the :structure being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, generally similar to Fig. l, :showing the parts in diierent position and with part of :the construction broken away and in section; land Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 'of Fig. 1.

My invention deals with umbrellas, particlularly of :the type and kind wherein tilting of the upper structure of the umbrella is desirable in order to provide for a better control of shade or other protection in the use of the vumbrella.

As my invention deals primarily with the shaft and runner structure of the umbrella, such parts only are illustrated, as other portions of the umbrella structure are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention.

In the drawing, represents the lower part ofthe shaft structure of the umbrella which, in the construction shown, is tubular in form and at 11 is shown the upper part of the shaft structure, the latter also being preferably tubular in form.

At 12 is shown the sleeve or what is generally 'referred to as the runner, which is slidable longitudinally of the shaft in controlling opening and closing of the umbrella, that is to say, in controlling expansion and contraction of the bracing rods, two of whichare indicated, in part, at 13 in Fig. l of the drawing, these rods extending to Iand operating to extend the ribs of the umbrella, as with other structures of this type and kind. The rods 13 have ICC a pivotal mounting in slotted spaced plates 14`secured to the upper end of the runner 12', as with other devices of this type and kind.

The lower part 10 of the shaft has, at its upper end, an elongated slot 15, in which is movably supported a spring catch 16 which can be depressed by the runner 12 and, then, automatically extended support of the runner 12 in the normal open position of the umbrella with the shafts 10 and 11 in common alinement, as noted, in part, in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The spring catch 16 is substantially of general construction and includes a curved part 17 engaging one side of the tubular shaft and a more or less pin end 18 entering an aperture 19 on an opposed wall of the tube 10 in retaining the catch against displacement in the tubular shaft. The catch 16 is modied to the extent of having an upwardly extending tongue 20, in conjunction with which a downwardly extending linger 21 of a hinge plate 22 operates. At lthis time, it will be noted that the aperture 15 is of suflcient length to admit-the tongue 20 in assemblage of the spring catch 16 with lthe lower part 10 of the shaft.

The upper end of the part 10 of the shaft has a downwardly inclined cut 23 across the major portion of the top, leaving an upstanding curved wall 24 on the side of the tube opposed to the aperture 15.` It will also appear that the shaft part 11 has an upwardly inclined lower surface 25 to provide clearance for swinging movement of the upper part with respect to the lower part in moving the umbrella into the tilted position. However, the side of the shaft 11 has a downwardly extended end 26, which is adapted to bear upon the upwardly extended curve portion 24, when the parts are in the normal alined position, as noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The hinge plate 22 comprises a portion 27 which has a pressed fit or other permanent attachment the lower end portion of the upper shaft 11, ithe plate extending below the end 25 and is fashioned, at opposite sides, to form a pair of pintle bearings 28, through which a pivot pin 29 passes, the pin being secured in opposed walls of the part l10, as noted at 30 in Fig. 3 of lthe drawing. The nger 21, mentioned above, constitutes a continuation ofthe plate 27 disposed intermediate the bearings 28, as clearly noted in Fig. 3 of the drawing, andrthis linger is disposed at `such an angleas to normally engage the projecting tongue 20 to apply tension thereto to bias the shaft parts, when the parts are in the .position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, thus maintaining the shaft parts 10 and 211, not only in alinement, but against relative movement one with respect to the other, here keepingin mind the clearance normally allowed between the bore of the sleeve or runner 12 and the outside diameter of the shaft parts 10 and 11.

The finger 21 also serves to move the tongue intothe position shown lin Fig. l when the umbrella is at the tilted position, thus tensionally supporting the parts in such position, the parts being denitely retained .in the tilted position by engagement'of the lower end of the sleeve with the projecting curved portion 24, as is noted at 31 in Fig. l of the ldrawing.

When the umbrella is in the normal opened position, with the shafts 10 and 11 in alinement, as noted in Fig. 2, to move the upper shaft part 11 into the tilted position, all that is necessary is to move -the sleeve or runner 12 upwardly beyond the extension 24 and, then, to `swing the upper shaft part 11 into the angle position, noted in Fig. l; whereupon, the normally exerted downward pres- -sure on the runner by the open umbrella will autom-atically move the runner into the locked position engaging the projection 24, fthus maintaining the parts in the-tilted position. To again return the parts to the positionk of Fig. 2, it is first necessary to raise `the runner 12 to disengage it from the extension 24; whereupon, the parts can be swung into alined position and the runner moved dowwardly into ,engagement with the sprig catch 16, as noted in Fig. 2. T O completely close the umbrella, finger pressure is applied to the spring `catch 16 to move it into a position, similar to that shown in Fig. l, and, then, slide the runner 4downwardly on the shaft part 1 0, as with other devices of the type and kind under consideration.

It will be noted that, with the parts in the position shown in Fig l, the catch assumes the inwardly pressed position. However, as the .Upper shaft 11, including the runner 12 is swung into the alined position, the catch 416 is automatically projected into the position shown in Fig. 2 -by actuation of the Icurved part 17.

Having Vfully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In tiltable umbrellas of the character described, upper and lower shaft parts, a spring catch mounted in connection with the lower shaft part adjacent its upper end, means, at adjacent ends of the shaft part, for swingably coupling said parts, a runner slidably mounted on and movable longitudinally of both shaft parts, said runner being normally held in position overlying adjacent ends of the shaft parts by said spring catch in maintaining the shaft parts in longitudinal alinement when the umbrella is in open position, said runner being adapted to be moved onto the upper shaft part in swinging the upper shaft part into angular position with respect lto the lower shaft part in tilting the umbrella, the lower shaft part having means operatively engaging said runner in positively retaining the upper shaft part in tilted position, said first named means comprising 'a hinge plate fixed to the upper shaft part and projecting into the upper end of the lower shaft part, said -hinge plate having side pintle bearings, and a pin mounted in said bearings land secured in opposed walls of the lower shaft part in hingedly coupling the shaft parts one with the other.

2. -In tiltable umbrellas of the character described., upper and lower shaft parts, a spring catch mounted in connection with the lower shaft part adjacent its upper end, means, at adjacent ends of the shaft part, for swingably coupling said parts, a runner slidably mounted on and movable longitudinally of both shaft parts, said runner being normally held Iin position overlying adjacent ends of the shaft parts by said spring catch in maintaining the shaft parts in longitudinal lalinement when the umbrella isin open position, said runner being adapted -to be moved onto the upper shaft part in swinging the Vupper shaft part linto angular position with respect to 'the lower shaft part in tilting the umbrella, the lower shaft'part Vhaving means operatively engaging said runner in positively retaining the upper shaft part in til-ted position, said first named means comprising `a hinge plate fixed to the upper shaft part and projecting into the upper end of the `lower shaft part, said'hinge plate having side pintle bearlngs, `a pin mounted in said bearings and secured 'in op- `posed walls of the lower shaft part inhingedly coupling the shaft parts one with the other, said hinge plate having, intermediate said bearings, a downwardly extending finger arranged in the lower shaft par-t, and said spring catch having an upwardly projecting tongue operatively engaglng said finger at all times in maintaining constant tensional engagement of the shaft parts one with the other and to bias the shaft parts toward their alined positions.

3. In tiltable umbrellas of the character described, upper andlower shaft parts, a spring catch mounted in connectionwith 'the lower shaft part adjacent its upper end, means, at adjacent ends ofthe shaft part, for swingably coupling said parts, a runner slidably mounted on and-movable longitudinally of both shaft parts, said runnerbemg 'normally 'held in position overlying adjacent ends of the shaft parts by saidspring catch in maintaining theshaft parts in longitudinal 'alinement when the `umbrella rsin open position, 'said'runner being ladaptedto be moved onto the upper shaft part in swinging the upper shaft part into angular position with respect to the lower shaft part in tilting the umbrella, the lower shaft part having means operatively engaging said runner in positively retaining the upper shaft part in tilted position, said first named means comprising a hinge plate fixed to the upper shaft part and projecting into the upper end of -the lower shaft part, said hinge plate having side pintle bearings, a pin mounted in said bearings and secured in opposed walls of the lower shaft part in hingedly coupling the shaft parts one with the other, `said hinge plate having, intermediate said bearings, a downwardly extending finger arranged in the lower shaft part, said spring catch having an upwardly projecting tongue operatively engaging said finger at all times in maintaining constant tensional engagement of the shaft parts one with the other and `to bias the shaft parts toward their alined positions, and Ithe lower end of the upper shaft part having a portion engaging the second named means when `the shaft parts are in alinement with each other.

4. In tiltable umbrellas of the character ldescribed, upper and lower shaft parts, a spring catch mounted in connection with the lower shaft part adjacent its upper end, means, at adjacent ends of the shaft part, for swingably coupling said parts, a runner slidably mounted on and movable longitudinally of both shaft parts, said runner being normally held in position .overlying adjacent ends of the shaft parts by said spring catch in maintaining the shaft parts in longitudinal alinement when the umbrella is `in open position, said runner being adapted to be moved onto `the upper shaft part in swinging the upper shaft part into angular position with respect to the lower shaft part in tilting the umbrella, the lower shaft part having ,means operatively engaging said runner in positively retaining the upper shaft pa-rt in tilted position, said first named means comprising a hinge plate fixed ,to the upper shaft part `'and projecting into the upper end of lthe lower shaft part, said hinge plate having side pintle bearings, a pin mounted in said bearings and secured in opposed walls of the lower shaft part in hingedly coupling the shaft parts one with the other, said hinge lplate having, intermediate said bearings, a downwardly extending finger arranged in the lower shaft part, said spring catch having an upwardly projecting tongue operatively engaging said finger at all times in maintaining constant ltensional engagement of the shaft parts one with the other and to bias the shaft parts toward their alined positions, the lower end of the upper shaft part having a portion yengaging the second named means .when the shaft parts are in alinement with each other, said shaft parts being tubular in form, the lower shaft part having an elongated aperture, in .which said spring catch is mounted, .and said spring catch having a pin end engaging an aperture in the wall of the lower shaft part in fixing the position of the springcatch in said lower shaft part.

5. In tiltable umbrellas of thecharacter described having movably coupled upper and lower tubular shaft parts, a runner slidably engaging the `shaft parts and adapted, in one position thereof, to bridge adjacent coupled ends of said shaft parts in support of the shaft partsin common alinement in normal uses of the umbrella, said runner being adapted to be moved ontothe upper shaft part in swinging said shaftpart into tilted position with respect to the lower shaft part, means including said `runner for retaining the upper shaft part in tilted position with-respect to the lower shaft part, and said upper shaft partfhaving means at all times arranged in the lower shaft part and in operative engagement with spring means supported solely in the lower shaft for maintaining constant tensional coupling engagement of the shaft parts one with respect to the other.

6. In tiltable umbrellas of the character :described having movably coupled upper and lower `tubular shaft parts, 'a `ruinrer'slidably engagingtheshaft parts and adapted,

in one position thereof, to bridge adjacent coupled ends of said shaft parts in support of the shaft parts in common alinement in normal uses of the umbrella, said runner being adapted to be moved onto the upper shaft part in swinging said shaft part into tilted position with respect to the lower shaft part, means including said runner for retaining the upper shaft part in tilted position with respect to `the lower shaft part, said upper -shaft part having means at `all times arranged in the lower shaft part and in operative engagement with spring means supported solely in the lower shaft for maintaining constant tensional coupling engagement of the shaft parts one with respect to the other, said second named means comprising a projecting finger operatively engaging a projecting tongue on said spring means, and said spring means supporting said runner in the first named position thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent v UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,881,990 Zitzer Oct. l1, 1932 2,311,841 Lange Feb. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 52,722 Holland July l5, 1942 137,467 Austria May 1l, 1934 

